Corporate Responsibility December 2009

We have launched Green Loans for Australian households to invest in solar, water saving, and energy-efficient products. The loans aim to tackle the up-front cost that can sometimes deter people from improving the sustainability features of their home.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer Graham Hodges said: “Greening your home makes sense from an environmental and a financial perspective. By offering Green Loans we can help Australians save money by making the initial investment in energy and water efficiency more accessible and affordable.”

The Green Loan is for amounts from A$3,000 to $10,000 over four years. Loan features include: no loan approval fee or loan administration charge; no early-break cost; and no interest (customers repay principle only).

Available to households that have undertaken a free home sustainability assessment provided through the Australian Government’s Green Loans Program, the scheme will help about 360,000 Australian households save energy and water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Government-sponsored program will also accelerate more growth in green jobs by generating work for around 1000 home sustainability assessors and encouraging an estimated A$400 million boost for the economy.